Disk-wheel construction



Oct. 12 1926, v 1,602,560

N. WAHLBERG DI SK WHEEL CONS TR'UGTION- Filed Feb. l6, 1925 3Sheets-Sheet l ddsl'my jab 4 I Oct. '12 1925.

E. JVAHLBERG DISK WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 16 1925 SSheetS-Sheet 5Patented Oct; 12, 1&26.

PATENT OFFECE.

iNIIIS ERIK WAHLIBEEG,

OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

DISK-WHEEL CdNSTRUCTION.

Application filed February 1a, 1925. Serial No. 9,368.

This invention relates to improvements in disk wheel construction andmore-particularly to vehicle wheels of the metal disk type.

With the advent of the so-called four wheel brakes for pleasurevehicles, with the additional braking mechanism required, there appearsto be considerable room for improvement of the 'design of vehiclewheels, with a view of reducing their weight to compensate for the addedweight of the brake parts carried by each wheel. \Vhile'a brakemechanism has always been associated with rear wheels, it is readilyseen that the additional equipment required to provide the front wheelswith brakes, adds materially to the unsprung weight, and thence if thisweight is excessive, it follows that the unquestioned advantagesof" thefour wheel brake equipment must necessarily be offset in some degree bythe unsprung load factor, which in turn affects the riding qualities andperformance of the vehicle.

It is the object of the present invention, therefore, to provide alighter construction for vehicle wheels and onewhich contemplates theuse of the metal disk type in which the brake drum is incorporated inthe wheel structure in such a way as to serve as a vital part of thewheel, as well as a part of the brake mechanism, thus making it possibleto eliminate considerable weight and to greatly simplify the design aswell as the ease of mounting and demounting.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings, in which-' Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the wheel andaxle assembly with the tire removed, and a Figure 2 is a viewin-elevation of the wheel with the disk and hub cap demounted, and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view ofthe rear wheel assembly. I

Referring first to the complete front wheel assembly, the same comprisesone end 'portion of the front axle l, a front.whe'el spindle 2, the hub3 journalled on the spindle by means of roller bearings 4:, 4, andsecured by :a nut 5, threaded on theend of the spindle, the end of thehub being sur .lnounted' by a hub cap 6. i

Iounted on the hub 3, is abrake drum 7 b0 tedto a radial flange 8located near the inner end thereof by means of a series of cap screws 9.The brake drum is a pressed steel shell consisting of a radial web 7 anda peripheral flange 7 forming the braking surface and extending inwardlysome distance beyond the hub, and enclosing a substantial annular spaceabout the end of the axle. Surrounding the internal face of the brakedrum is an expansion type brake band 10, operated by a brake lever 11,pivotally mounted on'a suitable bearing 12, carried at the upper end of.the spindle yoke 13, and, operatively connected at its free end with abrake rod leading to the foot operated brake pedal.

Enclosing the space occupied by the brake band, is an annular disk orplate 14, havin its central portion concaved or dish shape with acentral opening flanged and tnreadcd atll to fit the rear end of the hub3, and further secured in place by means of one or more cap screws lfanchored in the faces of the spindle yoke against which the centralportion of the disk bears. Beyond the central portion the disk extendsradially, thence curves rearwardly, and thence radially againiiterrninating adjacent the inner annular'sedgeof the brake drum in a U-shaped annular recess 14', into which the edge of-th'e'ibrake drumextends, and thus effectively sealing the space between from theentrance of dust and dirt.

The demountable portion of the wheel consists of a shallow conicalshaped disk 16,

stamped or pressed from relatively light gauge sheet steel,substantially one-half the thickness of the brake drum. As clearly shownin the drawings, an opening is formed at thev center of the disk, with ashort forwardly extending flange 16 surrounding the openin From thecentral opening the disk exten s radially at an angle of approximatelyto the plane of the wheel to and beyond the periphery of the brake drum8, .the latter being. beveled at the junction of the radial web 7- and fannular flange 7 thereof, to the same angle as the disk, there-' byforming an-annular bearing face or ring 17 about two inches wide andagainst which the disk has flush bearing engagement entirely around acircumference between the hub and the/rim but somewhat nearer the rim. vi i Not only has the disk bearing contact with the brake' drum'at theperiphery of of its periphery where it is ,'bent inwardly to form theperipheral flangeifll, on which is. pressed or shrunk the .tire rim 22,carrying the pneumatic tire 23. The disk 16 including the rim 22 andtire 23, and the hub cap (3, are the only demountable parts of thewheel, the hub 3 and brake drum 7 remaining securely journalled on thewheel spindle. 'Ihe flanged central opening of the disk has a snug fiton an annular bearing surface 24 near theouter end of the hub 3,which'is backed up by a shoulder as at 2-5 beveled at the same angle asthe taper of the disk. The hub cap 6 is hollow and somewhatsemi-spherical in shape, 'havinga hub engaging ring 26internally'threaded to turn on the threaded end portion of the hub, anda beveled flange 27, extended beyond the threaded portion. and bearingedgewise against the disk, just outwardly from the flange 16 at the.edge of the central opendown, the hub engaging portion of the disk issecurely clamped and locked between the beveled shoulder 25 on the hub,and the beveled edge 24 of. the hub ca Manifestly to demount the w ieelit is'only necessary to remove the hub cap 6 and the cap screws 18 andthen, lift the disk from its seat, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Tomount the wheel disk, the reverse operation would be carried out.

' The rear wheel construction shown in Figure 3 is not essentiallydifferent from the front wheel, the chief departure being the mountingof the wheel on a live axle rather than a dead axle, and in consequencethe driving force is transmitted from the axle to the rim, instead of'the force being exerted at the rim and transmitted to the axle as inthe case of the front wheel.

Thus the rear axle comprises, a tubular axle housing 30, having apropeller shaft 31,journallcd therein with its ends ext-ending throughand beyond a bearing-housing 32-, having a flanged end bolted to theflanged end of the axle housing-and support ing the outer axle bearing33. The outer end portion of the propeller shaft is preferably for edinto the for'mbf an integral hub 34, wit 1 an internal cavity throughoutits length, and a sl1ort "ra .dial flange 34: at its inner end.- Itsjouter; end is threaded to to 'the flange 34: of the hub, by cap screws7t 38, and otherwise formed in the same manner as the front brake drumexcept that the radial flange is not so wide which brings the'druinentirely within the width of the wheel rim, An externally contractingbrake ni band 39 is preferably used for the rear wheels, the same beingsupported by the usual arrangement of brackets 40, riveted to an annularplate 41, supported between the abutting end flanges of the anlelrousing30 and bearing housing 32, and lying in'tlie plane of the inner edge ofthe brake drum.

fEhe disk 42 is-of exactly the same construction and design as the frontdisk, in

fact they are interchangeable. Moreover the method of mounting the diskon the uh and fastening it in fixed bearing engagmient about theperiphery of the brake druin by means of a series of removablecaprscrews 4:3, is the some as already dcscri'l *d.

A slight modification in the a plication of these cap screws has beenshown, which may be used to some advantage" if desired.

It will be observed that surrounding the tapped holes in the. beveledface of the brake drum are concave seats or depressions as at 44, thescrews 43 are provided with loose washers or collars as, having theseouter faces convexed to correspond to the thereby providing a firmerconnection and at the same time obtaining the advantage of a lockingaction exerted on the screws, due to the resiliency of the metal'of thedisk.

Otherwise the method ofmounting and demountin of the rear wheel disk isthe same as alrea y described in connection with the front wheel, andthe same advantages are present in both.

There are several; mechanical and operative advantages Ofjthe wheelconstruction herein disclosed. In the first place, it will be observedthat the brake drum, and more particularly the radial web thereof,becomes'an essential, if not the main weight supporting part of thewheel structure, in addition to performing its function as the brakingsurface of the wheel' As a direct result of this design, theconstruction is not only unified, but a material reduction in the weightof the wheel is accon'iplished. This may be readily appreciated when itis pointed out that in. the ordinarydisk wheel the'brake drum is merelycarried by the wheel and serves only as a part of the brake'equip nent.

Thus by incorporating both in a single unit,

not only avoids-'duplication-of unnecessary needless weight whichotherwise is carried parts and material, but makes itpossible to by thevehicle. I construct .alwheel which weighs no more Having therefore-disclosed-the wheel conthan the ordinary disk WhQBlWlthOllt a-brakestruction embodying the invention, and the g. drum,'and, in fac may beless. advantages thereof, I claim as my'invention: Moreover, the w eelis designed for maxl- 1. Ina disk wheel construction the commum'streniglth against the multitude of bination of a hub, a brake drumfixed to stresses to w ich a vhiclewheel is subjected. said hub, and adiskof relatively light gauge It will be observed from Figure 1, forinmetal having rigid dem'ountable connection ed to stance,.that-a'radia1section of the wheel 1'8- at its center on said hub and about thepeveals a rigid triangular frame structure, riphery of said brake drum.

. formed-by the radial web of the brake 2. In a disk wheel construction,the com drum and the inclined wall lot the disk 16, bination of a hub, abrake drum fixed at one which meet at a fixed point or apex inwardend ofsaid hub and a disk of relatively thin 15 ly from the rim of the disk,;and with the metal having rigid demountable bearing enportion ofthe hubbetween the disk and. the ga ement on the other end of said hub, saidbrake drum forming the base of the frame. disi and brake drum convergingradially It follows therefore that the wheel stresses from said hub andhaving rigid but deare distributed through this 'rigid triangumountableconnection about the periphery 20 lar or A-frame, with the radial web ofthe of said brake drum. f brake drum taking the major portion 0f the 3,In a, disk wheel construction,ithe com;-

;=radial stresses on the wheel, transmitt hg bination of a hub, a brakedrum fix'ed at one to the axle the road resistance at the rim n end f idh b d i in di l the case of ,the front wheels, and the 'drivweb, and arim supporting disk of relative- 2e ing-"fo'rce from the axleto the rimin the ase ly light metal having acentral nearin at 50f the rear wheels.Lateral s resses are also th oth r nd of id hJb, s id di an resisted bythe radial web of the brake drum, dial w b of said brake (him-convergingraassisted by the 'inclined Wall of h disk diall from said hub andmeeting. in annuw Gh acts as iii-bracing member, fr m h lar, aringengagement intermediate the so sa hub to the periphery of the brakedrum; center and rim of said disk and threaded fas- The annular portionof the disk beyond the t ing m mbers f r dcmo ntably connecting Y brakedrum, though of relatively light maaid di kt id hub and brake drum atits terial, is properly designed to aflor ample central bearing andadjacent the periphery strength against the tortional strains about f thdial b of 'aid br k dr 35 as the rim of the wheel. Hence this eonstruc-14, In a, disk wheel construction, the comtion assures maximum str ng hand rigidity bination of a hub, a brake drum fixed to said with minimumof weight. Furthermore, hub and disk of relativel light gauge 'dhisconstruction in which the radial web of metal of flat conical section'ving central the brake drum becomes an integral part f bearingengagement with said ub, and an- 40 the wheel permits the disk to beconstruc nular bearing contact with said brake drum of a lightermaterial and provides-in effect adjacent its periglhelg, a threadedlocking ailightshell which carries the tires and its member for rig: yat demountably conrim. v necting said dis at its center tosaid hub at@Thus as a demountable wheel the structure .its central. bearing, andthreaded fastening {isexceptional advantages, in that only the membersextending through saiddisk and "'r elatively-light disk is removed,leaving the anchored in said brak'e at points about "heavier mass of thewheel supported on the the line of annular bear ng engagement hub, thussimplifying in a large degree the therebetween.

is: task of changing wheels in case of a punc- Signed at Kenosha, Wis,9th day of 10 60 tune or b1owout. So, too the light skeleton February,1925. disk carried as a spare re ucesthe extra and RNILS ERIK

